Connector



E. M. CLAYTAOR.

CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED IULY 28. 1917.

Patented May 3, 1921.

ISP-

INVENTOR Edward/1? f/d//a/ WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD M. CLAYTOR, OF WILKAINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC 82: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYL- VAN IA.

CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

:Patented May 3, 1921.

To all whom z't may concern:

of the casing l and forms means there- `,side Be it known that I, EDWARD M. Cnarromjgm, whereby the spring 3 and the contact a citizen of the United States, and a resident of VVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to connectors and terminal members and particularly to apparatus of the above indicated character that shall be used for testing purposes, wherein it is necessary to make and break connections a relatively large number of times.

One object of my invention is to provide a connector of the above indicated character that shall have means for securely holding a conductor in effective engagement with another` conductor, and for quickly disconnecting the conductors when desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connector of the above indicated character that shall be inexpensive to construct and eective in its operation.

Heretofore, in connectors used for testing purposes, it has been the common practice to insert a conductor in a metal casing, to one end of which another conductor is permanently attached. The removable conductor is held in place by means of set screws, and, consequently, it is necessary to use tools to tighten the same, which operation requires considerable time.

I eliminate this undesirable feature, and the method by which I accomplish this result may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a connector embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the connector shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the connector shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the connector shown in Fig. 3.

A casing or housing 1, of brass or other suitable conducting material, is provided with an opening 2 in which are disposed a spring member 3, preferably made of steel, and a contact member 4 made of brass or other conducting material. The casing 1 is also provided with a slot 5 at one side that facilitates the assembling of my device, and a relatively wide slot 6, at the other side thereof, the purpose of which will be described later. The slot 5 is milled into one member 4 are easily and effectively secured to the casing 1 by means of screws 7. The spring member 3 is so formed at one end as to constitute a biting or gripping edge 8. The edge 8, of the spring member 3, is beveled laterally, as shown in Fig. 2 and thus exerts a lateral pressure upon the conductor which tends to push it away from the slot 6.

In the operation of my device, a conductor l0 is inserted in the opening 2. This will push the spring member 3 inwardly, and the contact member 4, which is also of resilient, though different and weaker, material than the member 3, follows the latter in its movement. When the conductor 10 is inserted as far as possible in the opening 2, the member 3 presses firmly on it, and the edge 8 of the spring member bites into the soft metal of the conductor, thus holding it rmly in place. The member 3, by reason of its greater strength, also presses the contact member 4 firmly against the conducto-r, thus insuring an effective engagement therebetween. The circuit is thus completed through the conductor, the casing 1, the contact member 4, and the conductor 9, that is soldered in an opening in one end of the casing 1. lIhe biting edge 8 prevents the conductor from being pulled out by reason of the vibrations of the device to which it is connected.

When it is desired to disconnect the conductor l0 from the casing l, it is given a slight turn to the left, as shown in Fig. 3. The conductor 10 will slip from under the spring member 3 into the slot 6, and, from this position, may readily be withdrawn.

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to a connector for testing purposes, it may readily be seen that it is applicable to many other kinds of apparatus and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A connector for .an electrical conductor comprising a casing having an opening in one end and a slot in the side portion thereof, a contact member secured to the casing and means for gripping the conductor in engagement with the contact member when it is inserted in the opening and for permitting disengagement When the conductor is moved into the slot in the casing.

2. A terminal device for an 'electrical conductor comprising a casing having' an opening in one end and n slot in the ,eide portion thereof, and resilient means for securing the conductor therein when it is inserted in the opening and for permitting its With-l drawal when the conductor is so turned that it passes into the slot in the casing.

3. A terminal device for an electrical conductor comprising a easing having an opening in one end and a slot in the side portion thereof, a Contact member fastened to the casing, and means comprising e knife-blade edge for gripping the conductor in engagement with the Contact memloer when it is inserted inthe opening and for permitting disengagement when the conductor is so turned that it passes into the slot inthe casing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed 'my name this 20th day of July EDWARD M. CLAYTOR. 

